CVE-2026-9516

Summary

Cpanel::JSON::XS versions before 4.41 for Perl allow denial of service via UTF-8 BOM prefixed input when a decode filter callback throws.

To skip a leading 3-byte UTF-8 BOM, decode_json() advances the input scalar's string pointer past the mark with SvPV_set() and restores it only on the normal return path. When decoding aborts through a Perl exception, for example a filter_json_object callback that croaks, the restore is skipped and the scalar is left with its string pointer offset into its own buffer and a shortened length.

When that scalar is later freed, the allocator receives an invalid pointer and the interpreter aborts. A single BOM prefixed document decoded with a throwing filter callback crashes any caller.

Affected Software

Weaknesses

• CWE-763: CWE-763 Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference
• CWE-755: CWE-755 Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions

ADP Enrichment

CVE Program Container

Additional References

• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/5

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

• SSVC:
• Exploitation: none
  • Automatable: yes
  • Technical Impact: partial

References

• https://github.com/rurban/Cpanel-JSON-XS/commit/dfe1b41a36caba51dc12a2917fe50285d1ffaa7b.patch
• https://metacpan.org/release/RURBAN/Cpanel-JSON-XS-4.41/changes

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